kitchen special - Alykhan Velji Designs

kitchen special
styleathome.com February 2012
| 61
kitchen special | bistro glamour
1. The kitchen – a
galley that flows into
the more formal dining
room – is chock full
of practical features
that make it easy
for homeowner and
designer Elle Jungkind
to host parties and
entertain guests.
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DESIGN, Elle Maison
Design, ellemaison.ca;
cabinetry, hardware,
Kitchen Designers Plus;
Viking appliances,
Caplan’s Appliances; sink,
faucet, Taps Bath Centre.
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Toronto designer Elle Jungkind cooks up a visual feast in her own
kitchen that speaks to both traditional and modern sensibilities.
text Laura Muir | Photography Donna Griffith | Styling Jessica Waks
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styleathome.com February 2012
photography xxxxxxxxxx
2. The dome light
fixture lends a decidedly modern look to
the kitchen and, with its
round shape, balances
the space’s square lines.
Elegant and light filled, the charming
Toronto kitchen of Elle Jungkind looks
like something that could be found in
a New York apartment or a Parisian
pied-à-terre, so it’s hard to believe it
developed out of something a little
more mundane. “It all started with
the introduction of Toronto’s recycling
services,” says Elle, who owns the
interior design firm Elle Maison De­­
sign. Her kitchen couldn’t accommodate a recycling container, a green
compost bucket and a garbage can, so
she set out to fix the problem. “I had
seen those clever trash compartments
that are part of new kitchens and they
could easily go underneath my sink.”
But, Elle figured, why stop there?
After all, the kitchen in her Georgianstyle townhouse (published in Style at
Home’s May 2004 issue) had become
dated, she felt, and there were things
she could do to enhance both its functionality and aesthetic. For example,
Elle, an avid cook and entertainer,
could use more counter space. Also,
she thought, why not replace the wall
oven and microwave with a gorgeous
high-end range? And with the wall
oven gone, she could install a pantry
with slide-out drawers. “That’s what
really got me going,” says Elle.
Inspired by New York City bistros
(she loves the industrial appliances,
the expanses of marble, the chunky
white dishes and the organic hits that
define this style), Elle included a mix
of contemporary and traditional elements in a light, monochromatic palette to create a classic look.
“Because it’s a small space, I didn’t
want to get distracted by a lot of stops
and starts of anything,” she says. So,
along with her all-white custom cabinetry, she incorporated slabs of marble for the backsplash (as opposed to
“choppy-looking” tile), an extra-thick
white quartz countertop and a large
single undermount sink. “One of the
things I found was that when I entertained I would have these big platters
and, with my double sink, I could
never wash them properly,” she says.
“I wanted a place where I could just
put something like that down and let
it soak for a few hours.”
Indeed, everything about this kitchen, including its under-sink garbage
system, is practical. The cabinetry is
organized with the slide-out drawers
she wanted; the countertop, which
Elle extended on one side, allows her
more prep space and an area to set out
food for guests; and the substantial
gooseneck faucet also makes it easier
to fill and clean up pots. “I’ve crowded
so many important features into my
kitchen that it doesn’t act like a small
space,” says Elle. “Not only is it pretty,
but it’s also really functional.”
Stony Ground 211 wall
paint, Farrow & Ball;
pendant light, Royal
Lighting; table, chairs,
Elle Maison Design;
stools, ISA International;
Ming Fret stool fabric
in Taupe, Robert Allen;
Fornasetti plates,
AT Design Group.
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3. The kitchen’s mix
of white recess-panelled
cabinetry, marble
backsplash, chunky
quartz countertops
and show-stopping
commercial-style stove
offers a look that’s
classic, bright and warm.
Calacatta Oro marble
backsplash, quartz
countertops in
Blizzard, Marble and
Granite Stonecraft.
4. Elle’s British Blue
cat, Bettina, enjoys the
kitchen’s eating area,
which is defined by
modern elements that
enhance the room’s
contemporary look.
The upholstered stools
add a graphic punch
and create an attractive sightline from
the dining room.
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5. All-wood custom
pullout storage allows
Elle easier access
to her dishes and pantry
items. “Because I have
so many dishes and
things, I wanted drawers
so I could see it all
at a glance,” she says.
FOR SOURCES, SEE
OUR WORKBOOK
styleathome.com February 2012
| 63
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kitchen
special | fresh traditional
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With its glass-tiled backsplash, allwhite cabinetry and luxurious quartz
and marble countertops, this decidedly chic kitchen (inspired by one the
homeowner, funnily enough, saw in
the pages of Style at Home) doesn’t
exactly shout “suitable for kids.” But
that’s exactly what it is.
Creating a bright, family-friendly
space had been a top priority since
Sarah and Aaron Smith, both engineers, moved into this Calgary home
about three years ago. (They now
share the house with their two sons,
Bennett, 3, and Connor, 1.) Originally,
the room, with its overbearing cabinetry, felt very dark and confined. Flow
between the kitchen and dining area
was awkward, and features like an
ineffectual pass-through on one side
and low-hanging cabinetry on another
didn’t help. “If people were standing
on the other side of the counter, they
had to duck down below the cabinets
to see you,” says Sarah.
When it came time to gut the dated
kitchen, the couple called on designer
Aly Velji, whom they met when they
needed help picking paint colours for
their former home. Five years and
several room renos later, they knew
they could trust Aly to help realize
their vision. “We wanted to make the
Calgary designer Aly Velji considers
the needs and tastes of a family of four
to satisfy their every kitchen craving.
text Laura Muir | Photography Stacey Van Berkel-Haines
kitchen kid-friendly but also make it
look current and really fresh,” says Aly,
“so that’s the approach we took.”
First things first: the walls enclosing the kitchen came down and the
dining area’s vaulted ceiling was
evened out, streamlining the resulting 16-by-21-foot space. With functionality an enormous consideration,
the new traditional cabinetry – the
homeowners didn’t want to go too
modern in their 1960s house – was
packed with handy custom storage.
The mix of modern and traditional
elements creates a timeless aesthetic,
and some eclectic decorative touches,
such as a row of glass globe pendant
lights and Roman shades with a modern trellis pattern, work to elevate the
kitchen’s inviting charm. “I’m always
looking to do something a little bit different and unexpected,” says Aly.
But it seems the most unexpected
thing about this undeniably sophisticated space is just how kid-friendly it
really is: The glass backsplash is easy
to clean, the stools are covered in
stain-resistant microsuede and the
ample marble-topped island offers the
perfect spot for casual meals. “In the
end, we were able to create a kitchen
that doesn’t look ‘kiddish’ but in fact
can be used by a family,” says Sarah.
1. Homeowners Sarah
and Aaron Smith’s
former kitchen felt
dark, confined and
dated. To create a
bright, fresh space with
better flow, walls were
taken down and the
space was decorated
in a light palette.
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design, Alykhan Velji
Designs, alyveljidesigns.com;
hardware, Banbury Lane
Design Centre; Caesarstone
quartz countertops
in Concrete, Carrara marble
island countertop,
glass backsplash tiles,
Icon Stone & Tile; Blanco
sink, Hansgrohe faucet
& soap dispenser, The
Royal Flush; filtered water
faucet, Culligan; Cyan
Design Janus pendant
lights, Carrington
Lighting; stools, 4living;
Flowers (throughout),
Lil’ Pink Daisy Florals.
2. The brown-stained
oak floors and dark
grey quartz countertop
add warmth and depth.
“Plus, quartz is a nice
feature because it’s
very durable,” says
Sarah. Designed with
function in mind,
the cabinetry houses
elements like a pullout
wine rack, spice rack
and garbage drawer.
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Red oak hardwood
flooring with coffee
stain, Homestyle Hardwood
Floors; Threads Zenith
Reverse Roman shade
fabric in Dove, Kravet/
Lee Jofa Showroom.
3. A wall of cabinetry
surrounding the fridge
and double ovens
includes a pantry with
handy pullout shelves.
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Miele appliances, Sharp
microwave, Jerome’s
Appliance Gallery.
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styleathome.com February 2012
5. The stacked paleblue glass subway
tiles and stainless steel
appliances, which
were chosen for their
function and sleek
look, says Sarah, juxtaposes the kitchen’s
traditional cabinetry.
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photography xxxxxxxxxx
photography xxxxxxxxxx
4. The dark grey
quartz countertop
helps to ground the
all-white cabinetry and
allows for accessories
to really stand out.
FOR SOURCES, SEE
OUR WORKBOOK
styleathome.com February 2012
| 65
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kitchen
special | modern fun
1. Defining the eating
area, the banquette
contains three drawers
for extra storage. It
also provided designer
Jessica Kelly with an
opportunity to include
a variety of cushions,
which adds extra
colour and also softens
the sleek, industrial
look of the space.
design, Jessica Kelly
Design, jessicakellydesign.com; banquette
cabinetry, IKEA;
banquette fabrication, JD McNicoll
Interiors; seat cushion,
Quality Upholstery.
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Toronto designer Jessica Kelly serves this homeowner a dose
of modern garnished with lighthearted colour and texture.
photography xxxxxxxxxx
photography xxxxxxxxxx
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styleathome.com February 2012
3. Covering an entire
wall in tumbled marble
gives this kitchen its
“wow” factor. Also,
passing on upper
cabinetry left room
to install the substantial
chef-style faucet.
cabinetry, IKEA;
hardware, Métal Style
Bouvet; tumbled marble
backsplash, porcelain
floor tiles, Olympia
Tile & Stone; Caesarstone
countertops in Stone
Grey, Allset Interiors; sink,
faucet, Blanco; Panasonic
microwave, The Bay.
text Laura Muir | Photography Joanna Ferraro
66 |
2. The airy chandelier
by Patrick Townsend,
which homeowner
Christopher Craib
dubbed “splash-tastic,”
anchors the eating area
and complements the
contemporary kitchen.
4. With a monochromatic backdrop, you
can easily change
a kitchen’s look with
colourful accents
without having
to spend a bundle,
says Christopher.
Preparing for a kitchen renovation is
definitely a time to dream – to think
of how that brand new stainless steel
range, show-stopping backsplash or
even extra counter space will make
life just that much better. But for a
Bay Street financier, it’s also a time for
prudence. When Christopher Craib,
the chief financial officer of a securities firm in Toronto, decided it was
time to overhaul the builder-boring
kitchen in his 10-year-old west-end
condo, his plan involved more than
just updating the look.
“I had to consider I was renovating
in a condo and wanted to spend my
money wisely,” says Christopher, who
has been living in his 1,600-squarefoot condo for eight years. “You have
to be careful not to overspend for your
building if you want to get your money
back in the future, so I was mindful of
those constraints.” For Christopher,
cautious spending meant keeping the
reno simple (“I didn’t want to have to
move plumbing or make major structural changes”), mixing high and low
elements and creating a modern look
that lasts. So he enlisted Toronto
designer Jessica Kelly to make sure
he got it all right the first time.
To create a contemporary, slightly
industrial aesthetic, Jessica incorporated all-white high-gloss cabinetry,
grey quartz countertops and over-
sized porcelain floor tiles. Giving the
kitchen its standout appeal, tumbled
marble serves as the backsplash on
one side of the kitchen and creates a
captivating feature wall, which was
kept free of any upper cabinetry, unlike the other. It was a big decision,
but Christopher bucked the trend of
open-concept condo living and chose
not to take down the nine-foot-long
wall separating the kitchen and dining room. Instead, Jessica pared back
two half walls that slightly separated
the kitchen from the eat-in nook and
created a more open, streamlined
18-by-eight-foot galley space.
While the relationship between
de­s igner and homeowner was extremely simpatico during the process,
there was one bit of controversy. “I
was against doing a banquette in the
eating area,” says Christopher. “I
didn’t want to invest money in a builtin because, if I sell the place, I can’t
take it with me.” He’s glad he changed
his mind, because with the kitchen
now being his favourite room in the
condo, the banquette offers him a
spot to sit and enjoy the space. “I have
coffee there, I read there,” he says.
“I’ve even managed to have a nap.”
So, as Christopher proves, it’s important to let self-indulgence sometimes win over prudence. “Ultimately,
I built this kitchen for myself.”
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5. The sleek appliances
and all-white high-gloss
cabinetry were offset
with a tumbled marble
backsplash, which
provides interest and
texture. “We also went
for glass-front upper
cabinets to mix it up a
bit and add dimension,”
says Jessica. “I like
how their metal frames
tie in with the stainless
steel appliances.”
Bosch stove & range
hood, Fisher & Paykel
refrigerator, The Bay.
FOR SOURCES, SEE
OUR WORKBOOK
styleathome.com February 2012
| 67
kitchen special | details
With a designer’s touch, these three kitchens went from unappetizing
to delectable thanks to refreshed floor plans and à la carte looks.
The layout of this 136-square-foot kitchen remained
the same, but replacing the wall oven and microwave
with a high-end range allowed for a useful pantry.
Forgoing an open-concept cooking/dining area, two half
walls were removed to create a more open, galley-style
kitchen, resulting in a 144-square-foot space.
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styleathome.com February 2012
photography, virginia macdonald (jungkind before); illustrations, ashley braun
To create better flow in this 336-square-foot space,
walls were taken down – one had an ineffectual
pass-through and another was essentially a counter
with awkward overhang cabinets.